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Barry Neal and House of Flavors Restaurant team member Megan Clark look over one of the photographs on the wall. Neal has been able to identify two of the women in the photo, Mary Lou Gregones,on the left, and Margaret Swanson next to her. But still needs help identifying the women on the right.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — For over 75 years, House of Flavors is a name that’s been associated with Ludington. Visiting the restaurant at 402 W. Ludington Ave. and eating House of Flavors ice cream is a ritual for many visitors and residents alike. The heritage of House of Flavors and its founding family will be celebrated next month by the Mason County Historical Society in a special ice cream social event at the Mason County Research Center in downtown Ludington.
As a compliment to the Historical Society event, Barry Neal, owner of House of Flavors Restaurant, is hoping his customers can help him identify some photographs. For years, the iconic restaurant, which celebrated its 75th year in business last year, has featured large black and white photographs that range from the 1930s to the 1950s on its walls. Neal would like to know who is in the images and perhaps even the circumstances behind some of the images.
“We know many of the people in the images, such as the picture of young Budde and Todd Reed blowing straw wrappers on the ceiling,” Neal said. “But there are several others where we need some extra help. As we go into our 76th year we would like to make sure that we are able to document these photographs for history.”
Preserving history is important to the Neal family. So much so, the family is making a significant financial donation to the Mason County Historical Society through its Legacy Campaign. The campaign helps fund the Society’s Mason County Research Center, located at 130 E. Ludington Ave. in downtown Ludington. The Research Center houses the county’s historical records and artifacts. The stories of the major Legacy donors are told in a display in the Research Center’s Legacy Hall, a community gathering place that is available for rent.
The House of Flavors ice cream legacy consists of what are now two separate companies that operate side-by-side; House of Flavors, Inc., which manufactures ice cream under the House of Flavors label along with many other labels, and House of Flavors Restaurant. House of Flavors began in 1948 as Park Dairy under the ownership of the late Robert Neal, Sr. However, the business made ice cream as Miller Dairy since 1935.
In 1962, Robert Neal, Sr. offered his son, Robert Neal, Jr. (Bob) a job as the plant manager for $100 a week and 20% of Park Dairy. Bob, Jr. oversaw three employees; the small business produced a half gallon of ice cream every 10 seconds. Father and son changed the company name to Ludington’s iconic “House of Flavors” in 1964.
Bob had three children with his first wife and continued to expand the ice cream business. In 1974, Bob married Kay Hackert.
Bob and Kay sold their shares of the manufacturing business to Protein Holdings in 1999; the company operates as House of Flavors, Inc. Kay’s daughter, Sarah Holmes, serves as vice president of finance of House of Flavors, Inc. Sarah’s daughter, Lindsey Calhoun, is the sales and marketing assistant for Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream at the manufacturing business.
House of Flavors Restaurant is now owned by Bob’s son, Barry and his wife Cindy and is also operated by Barry and Cindy’s son-in-law, Mike Cota, who is married to their daughter, Madison. Barry is also a partner in The Parlor by House of Flavors in Zeeland, Mich.
House of Flavors Restaurant continues to be one of Ludington’s top tourist destinations. In 2016, it made national news when it achieved the Guinness World Record for longest frozen dessert, forming a 2,970 foot ice cream sundae on Ludington Avenue.
Being in business for over 75 years means that that business accumulates many historical items.
“Throughout the history of House of Flavors, we have gathered a considerable collection of various items that are relevant to the history of Mason County,” Barry Neal said. “Besides the photographs on our walls, we have a significant collection of milk bottles from various Mason County dairies that once existed, along with many other items.”
Barry Neal said he wants to assure that the heritage of House of Flavors is preserved, which is why he is working with the Mason County Historical Society to donate much of his collection into the Society’s archives.
“Partnering with the Mason County Historical Society will assure that the histories of the company and our family are preserved in a way that meets nationally-recognized standards,” Neal said.
The Mason County Historical Society is a non-profit charitable organization that not only owns the Mason County Research Center, it also owns and operates Historic White Pine Village and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum.
Much of the House of Flavors collection would remain on display at the restaurant.
“Adding the collection from House of Flavors into our archives helps assure that the legacy of the Neal and Hackert families remains a part of our county’s history for years to come,” said Rebecca Berringer, executive director of the Society. “Displaying many of these items at the restaurant itself also provides an additional historical experience for locals and visitors alike.”
The House of Flavors legacy will be celebrated during an unveiling event at the Mason County Research Center sometime this summer or fall. Details will be announced within the next few weeks.
To learn how you can donate to the Mason County Historical Society, visit its website masoncountymihistory.org or call (231) 843-4808.
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